It was on the footy feed nonsense video that the AFL website uploads every afternoon. They door-stopped him outside the hospital.
edit* here it is:
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Most pundits had Pidge ahead of McClug (I wanted the him), it wasnāt the wrong call and so hasnāt proven to be a wrong call. Clug hasnāt been that great until this year. Pidge is going through a transition from his starting position in his first year to a midfield role, that takes some time. It is understandable he might not be at his best but in the long term it will make him a much more rounded player who is able to do a few different roles when required.
Sheeds was very big on that sort of thing too.
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People forget Pidge is still only 20. Heās still young enough to be in the age bracket to win a rising star award. Imagine him in the midfield in another few seasons!
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Look at Jack Billings this year. Some guys take longer to come on and there can be a range of reasons why that is.
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McClugge is 3 months older than Pidge . Taranto is more then 4.
We should only draft guys born in the first qtr of the year. Terrible work from the recruiters.
Taranto 8 months older, McCluggage 10!
We basically get an extra season out of Pidge.
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hahaā¦you might want to check those maths
Lol, my bad. Been a long day.
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Our midfield is bare?
For an Elite poster, thatās not a very elite comment.
He played 100% back pocket year 1.
Played 60/40 def/mid.
And now 6 games in has played majority outside mid. What kind of development are you expecting here?
And peaked at age 20? Cmon mate this is highly unlikely. Letās not cause panic just yet!
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I think heāll be fine, but itās hard to watch Taranto tearing it up this year and not be a touch jealous!
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Pidge is an out and out gun. Iām super happy that we drafted him.
The point is that he is such a versatile player that he shouldnāt be left on a wing when he isnāt impacting a game. Bring him into the game somehow. Woosha could have moved him into a deep forward pocket position yesterday (in the Raz role), which would have eased pressure on Walla and allowed that extra pace to test the Cats. Alternatively, he could have been switched into a tagging role on one of the Cats mids who were consistently pressing forward and causing havoc. Or even given a role on Gary Ablett, who at almost 35, made us look silly with all the space he had to move in yesterday.
This is the beauty of Pidge - his versatility. Why not utilise that?
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Fair pointā¦but maybe theyāre taking a short term hit in terms of his value to the team, for the longer term benefit of him becoming a real gun mid. Personally Iām happy for him to play the whole season as a mid. We know he can do those other roles. Use it in finals if need be, but for now, let him get as many learnings as possible in midfield.
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Some people should have their right to express an opinion in public permanently revoked and limited to vague mumblings in an otherwise silent basement.
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About the mid thing (and I was discussing this with Peos offline yesterday - for copyright purposes - ha), but I donāt believe he is suited as an outside mid. He is a contest player - thrives on it. So, again, he needs to be more at the coalface, not squandered on the outside.
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Sat wut now? 
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Fair enough. Personally, Iād be happy if they sit Merrett more on the outside so he can utilise his kicking skills.
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Equally though, one of his strengths has been to create play off the backline driving the ball forward, using pace and movement to beat the opponent. That is an outside mid trait so why not try him there as well?
As you say he is versatile, to be be good at that sort of versatility you need to learn to play those roles. That appears to be what the coaches are trying.
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Does his best work in traffic. Held down the best small forwards in the comp. Spoils, tackles, wins his own ball and has lightning reflexes and decision making in traffic. He is a super smart player. I prefer him playing in any position that is providing him with a constant and direct contest. Free roaming on the outside is better suited to players with elite and penetrating kicking skills.
p.s. Condolences for the other day, IT. Lost my Dad in Feb this year, so solidarity at this time.
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Thanks JR
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